Joe, I think your post below is a good introduction to the religion of Zen Buddhism, but I do want to note that IMO zen is not a religion nor dependent upon or co-dependent with the religion of Buddhism.
Also, I'd massage your first paragraph to read, 'I think all the religions developed in a space and time that was appropriate to convey their founder's experience.' I offer this because the way you wrote it sounds like the religion proceeded the founder's experience rather than the other way around. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Welcome. > > I think all the religions developed in a place and time that was right for > their founders to have some sort of experience. After that experience, and > after the death of the founders, doctrine and dogma develop naturally, and > they accumulate. > > A few religions -- maybe most -- have "wings", or branches, that are devoted > to practice(s) in order to enable followers to have the same experience as > the founder. One of these is the Zen tradition of Buddhism. > > There are different streams of Zen practice and tradition. > > And there are practices of other religions which look a bit like Zen > practice, and involve meditation or contemplation. > > For example, there is Christian Contemplative practice; and, there is the > Sufi school of Islam, which is the mystical, direct-experience, branch of > Islam. > > The mystical branches are those that are not so much bound by "the Book", as > they are kept alive by actual, community, practice, usually involving direct > experience of a fundamental nature, or Nature. > > Thus, I feel it would not be a good idea to mix all the religions of the > Earth; but, if you feel drawn to direct- and awakened-experience yourself, it > would be good to choose one tradition and find a teacher who can start you > out on that sort of practice. I did this in Sufism, and then afterward did > this in Zen Buddhism, and have stayed with Zen for the past 34 years or so. > So far, so good. It seems like a good match, and seems to have a minimum of > baggage or trappings, either ancient or modern. It seems basically Human, to > me. > > That's what I was looking for: not something that would "train" me in a > certain way, to conform with a book; but something that would open up > something original in a human being, or restore something that was just > covered up by education and societal training and conformance. This can > definitely be found in Zen practice. > > If Zen practice interests you, it's important to know that you can get a good > introduction to it by a teacher. There may be Zen groups near you who have > teachers. They may have "Newcomer Nights", or something like that, which > would be a good time to show up. Maybe check out some local "Zendo" or Zen > group on the web, and see their schedule. Or just show up when they are open > and see what's going on. > > Good luck! > > People here at this Zen Forum group may have other suggestions. And of > course there's lots available to read. But Zen practice involves the whole > person, and is a collaboration of body and mind. There's nothing better than > getting the body involved earlier, as early as possible, and it's never too > soon. There's almost nothing in books but encouragement. Encouragement to > begin practice. Maybe you'll make a start. > > Best, > > --Joe > > "kaydam60" <kaydam1@> wrote: > > > > Hello all I know nothing about Zen. I enjoy the music and recently read a > > book about Edgar Casey and reincarnation. Found it very interesting and > > made some sense. I read a little about Zen and some of it sounds like what > > I read on Edgar Casey. Very interested. Was raised in a Christian > > household but have always had trouble buying into it. I think it covers > > some of what is next but with too much ceremony, like the Catholic faith. > > I liked the Secret but feel it's lacking something also. I truly think > > that if you could combine all the religions, you would have the answers. > > Thanks for reading and you will have to help me through this group thing. > > I'm a group virgin. > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
